Good Senior Lifehttp://dishner.com
helpful experiencesSat, 23 Jan 2016 08:16:18 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.13Stopping Smokinghttp://dishner.com/?p=79
Sat, 23 Jan 2016 07:00:17 +0000http://dishner.com/?p=79Continue reading →]]>Dear people of AS3, this is a long post. If you need a distraction then this is for you. This is a story about my life as I deal with the effects of smoking. Quit smoking. Stay quit if you are on the journey now

reference to AS3 = https://www.facebook.com/groups/AS3onFB/

I can remember when distractions were essential to my quit; it was this group and those distractions. Many of them were simple games. others were sites that held my attention for a while. Others were interesting posts. All of the posts gave me the encouragement that I needed to continue my quit.

I quit smoking eleven years ago. I smoked for more than 60 years. Now I am paying the consequences of all of those nasty cigarettes, more than eighty thousand of them. My lungs have processed a Kilo of tar (2.2 pounds). That is about a liter (slightly more than quart) of pure tar. It’s actually more. That’s a conservative estimate for one pack a day.

My day begins with a prayer, mostly thanksgiving.. Next I disconnect the oxygen hose from my ventilator and connect it to the nasal hose. This hose is 40 feet long and comes from my oxygen concentrator that is running in the hallway. You can imagine how often that hose gets snagged by something or tangled. My home has been rearranged to minimize those problems. My ventilator is sort of like a CPAP machine, but it has variable pressure that is controlled by volume. Long ago, this used to require an iron lung, and later it became a tube down one’s throat. I can get by with this machine and a mask because I only need it when I am sleeping.

In the morning there is the usual personal care. Next I exercise my lungs with a spirometer. I do at least ten, sometimes more. Then I do two breathing treatments with a nebulizer. Now I can make a cup of coffee and surf The Internet. I still cook and do my laundry, but I cannot clean. Somebody comes and does that at no small expense. Shutting down at the end of the day is similar. Home Health comes to check me and my vitals weekly. This is done to keep me out of the hospital. Previously I was in the hospital because my capillary oxygen saturation was in the 60 percent range. Now, with the oxygen and other treatments, it stays in the 90 percent range.

If I am going for groceries I make sure that I have my small portable oxygen tank with the pulse mode regulator and the larger tank with the continuous flow regulator. I make sure I have spare tanks in the car, just in case. I put on the small device, go to the car, switch to the larger tank and begin the 30 minute journey to the grocery store. I won’t bore you with all of the steps required to get into the store, get a cart, shop, get stuff into my car and then out of the car and into my house. I have a grocery shopping day. That’s all for that day. Did I mention that smoking has robbed me of stamina.

I have a friend my age who continues to smoke, He is confined to a power wheelchair and has a long list of medical problems. I have another friend my age who hikes and bikes and swims. He never smoked.

Unbelievably, except for the breathing issues, my health is good. I feel good. I eat well. I have wonderful friends.

I have not been posting on AS3. I care about anyone trying to quit or keep a quit, but I could not keep up with you folks. My friend said for me to post when I can and not to worry about missed posts. I am now a “drive by” poster with a tremendous amount of respect for those who are consistently here.

Quit smoking. Stay quit if you are on the journey now. Smoking is a strong and horrible addiction. You can beat it only if you are totally committed. I do not believe that you can try to quit, You have to just quit. Use whatever method that works for you. If you fail, get up and continue but don’t give up.

Once upon a time I lived in a small apartment in a large, 3 story, old, brick house. The house sat behind a tall, grey, stone wall. I had to drive through an opening in the wall and follow the winding drive around the house to the back where I parked. Then I walked back to the house and entered my apartment from a side door. At night it was pitch dark. The place was surrounded by large trees and mature shrubbery.

The lady who owned the house lived in the main house with her son. He was in his thirties and severely retarded. He had the mind of a 3 year old, but he was over six feet tall and he shaved. A local group worked with this man. He could dress himself and he had a job. He worked only a few days a week for a few hours only. His job was provided by a local, downtown grocer. He walked to the corner, caught a bus downtown to his job and rode the bus back home. He was proud and his mother was proud. He was actually a pretty cool person.

He was paid in cash. He was allowed to do whatever he wanted with his money. He even got robbed once by some really mean kids. They were caught and got a lecture from the grocer’s wife. They did not want any more of that. Billy’s mother said, “Whatever happens he has a life. He has a chance to be happy, sad, excited, afraid, whatever.” Wow, what a great mom.

Every weekday afternoon, after work, I would drive in and around to the back, park my car and walk to my apartment door. This guy, let’s call him Billy, would meet me in the driveway. We exchanged smiles and hellos, then went our own way.

One day I stayed out late drinking with friends. I am not proud of that, but it was what it was. I came in very late that evening. I walked quietly back up the drive, through the trees and shrubberies. Billy was hiding in the shrubbery. He jumped out and grabbed me really hard. He was sort of jumping up and down and making some very weird noises.

OK, that was my Near Death Experience (NDE). I nearly died from fright right there, in the dark, in the shrubs, in the grip of a wild man. There was no out of body experience, just plain old Alfred Hitchcock fear.

Once I figured out that I did not die I realized that Billy was excited and wanted me to follow him. He led me back to the garage, went into the garage, and emerged holding a rooster. He was loving and petting this chicken. He gave it to me to hold. I petted it too. Chickens, apparently, aren’t really fond of being petted, but I managed not to let it get away.

Now Billy wanted to tell me something. It was like charades. He was very good at it. He pointed to his eyes, crouched down and moved his head around like he was searching for something, Then he appeared to see something and grab it. Then he pointed to his chicken and smiled. He took his chicken back. I said, “So, Billy. You caught this chicken?” He smiled, beamed actually, and shook his head up and down.

I congratulated him on his chicken. Petted it on the head and we each went our own way.

The next day his mother came to me and thanked me for the way I handled the situation. She was secretly watching. She said that he waited for me to come home every day. She said that exchanging greetings with me was one of the high points of his day. He had waited all afternoon and evening for me to come home.

I was too stupid to know that on my own. This experience is like a magic flashlight in my memory. Whenever I think about this I am reminded of every hurtful thing I have done to people who loved me. I was so unbelievably stupid most of my life. I probably still am, but I am better.

It is silly season. These windbag, do nothing, know nothing politicians try to divide us and put us against one another. The problem with these idiots is: They are us and we are them. We the people are those guys and gals.

Yes I have a political view, but I will not share that here. This Blog is for everyone, everywhere. I love you all. I have a religious view also. I am not selling that here either. It may show up in my words and phrases, but that is because my beliefs determine who I am to some degree.

A man of great faith, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said that faith is not about believing the unbelievable, but it is about living your life according to your beliefs regardless of the consequences. I believe that he was a good guy. Terrorists who blow themselves up to kill others are also men and women of great faith. I believe those are bad people. If I was born and raised in their land I would be one of them too. Don’t kid yourself into believing that you would be better than that.

The only weapon that will destroy evil and save us all is love. Here is my part: I love you all.

We are all the same. We need something to do, something to look forward to and someone to love. We all have the same feelings and emotions. I read those things somewhere and it rings true to me.

Many religious leaders and politicians are a negative force in the human experience. Please do all you can to take away their power over us. It is always bad, never good. Remember, they are us.

Here, in the US of A, we are everyone. That was the dream. Let us make it so. We can’t make war on the Iranians. We are Iranian. We shouldn’t go there and bomb the crap out of the friends and families of Americans. The people in Iran do not hate us. Just say no to war.

We are humanity. We must unite in truth to fight the dark forces of tyrannical control. We will be victorious. We cannot fail. Humanity is at risk. . . Victoria Veritas

Rules of life:
Life is tough. It’s even tougher when you are stupid . . . John Wayne
Just don’t do anything stupid . . . Daniel Negreanu, a really good poker player
Never trust the government . . . Screaming man T Shirts

My faith is in a God revealed to me by the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. I am filled with love, hope, joy and gratitude.

Because I expressed my faith, I might be labeled a terrorist by the U.S. Government. Because I believe in personal liberty, I might be labeled a terrorist by the U.S. Government. Returning veterans might be labeled as terrorists by the U. S. Government. According to the recent National Defense Authorization Act anyone labeled a terrorist can be arrested and put away indefinitely with no due process and no constitutional rights.

Do you think this only applies to the bad guys? Who decides? A politician, that’s who. Remember, they are us.

Have you heard of a big bank banker going to jail for the fraud that caused people to lose their jobs, their homes and their retirement? They got bailed out and gave themselves huge bonuses.

It is up to us. Please do all you can to take away their power over us. Remember, they are us. If that does not scare you then nothing will.

I saw this bug while walking to the drugstore. I nudged him with my foot. He turned around and came after me. I moved off to the side. He turned and kept coming. This guy wanted to take me on. I stepped over him and continued on my way. I could almost hear him behind me, “Hey, come here you, I want to fight.”

Fracking contaminates vast areas with millions of gallons of toxic liquids.
These liquids can migrate over time to contaminate even larger and unpredictable areas of the earth.It cannot be called back or withdrawn. The toxic contamination is forever.

Here are some facts about fracking. This is not opinion or conjecture, but just some facts.

Fracking, a term used for horizontal hydraulic fracturing, is used to extract oil and natural gas from shale. The hazards are life threatening and forever. Any arguments to the contrary will not stand when scrutinized.

Fracking contaminates vast areas with millions of gallons of toxic liquids. Farms and forests can be destroyed even with controls and regulations in place. The water can be contaminated making it unfit for humans or animals. The land can also be contaminated making it unusable for crops or animals. Look at places in New York, Pennsylvania and some western states.

The toxic contamination is forever. It cannot be called back or withdrawn. These liquids migrate over time to contaminate even larger and unpredictable areas of the earth.This process saturates large underground areas with highly toxic liquids. Once the area is
supersaturated they then create a shock wave to break apart the structure of the earth. This process continues day after day, year after year. At multiple well sites they go down and then out horizontally (sideways). They will soak areas of the earth larger than small cities. It involves tens of millions of gallons of toxic liquids at each site. These toxins can never be recalled or taken back. It destroys organisms. The consequences of this are unknown. It could alter the life cycle of humanity.

They say it is mostly water. What I flush down my toilet is mostly water. They use dangerous, toxic fluids. In a relatively short period of time they will inject into a single well site the equivalent of the full septic tanks of more than ten thousand homes.

Some of what follows may include things that could be considered my opinion. You can decide for yourself. Oil companies use diagrams to explain their case. They show you how the earth is structured. These diagrams are oversimplified cartoon like drawing. The structure of the earth is far more complex than they show. The earth also moves and changes over time. The diagrams are designed to hide the dangers from you. These liquids creep and migrate. They have no clue how far it will go over time. It has the potential to leave entire geographic regions with poison water and earth, forever. The methane released by fracking may not follow the anticipated path to be captured. There can be spills and blow-backs.This is about cool little diagrams making us believe that we understand the process. It is about devious and deceitful people using these presentation tools to confuse you, steal your wealth and rob you of your birthright. The earth does not belong to them, it belongs to us. Just because they draw lines on maps and say this is my county, my state, my city does not make it true. It is ours. It belongs to us. People were elected to represent us. I have not seen or heard one single politician speak up for us. Some are holding out for “a better deal.” The politicians say it is safe if properly controlled. They say this because it is a talking point they were given, not because they know it’s true. In reality they have no clue. In my opinion an honest politician would never vote to permit fracking. Future generations, cursed with a contaminated earth, will label these politicians with some very nasty names. They can forget about their legacy.

Please write or phone your local, state and national representatives and senators. Ask them to please stop fracking.

]]>Sleephttp://dishner.com/?p=35
Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:39:46 +0000http://dishner.com/?p=35Continue reading →]]>Ahhh! Peaceful, beautiful sleep. A blessing if you have it, a curse if you do not.

I was not sleeping well and waking up tired. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, endured a sleep study and got a CPAP machine. Scary at first, but now I love the thing. I sleep so well with it . . . BUT!

Always a but, huh? Well, here’s mine. I shed all of my cares and worries and got to a place where I can do as I please, almost. I started waking up after about four hours, give or take. I would try to keep sleeping, but would finally just get up. I would be active, have breakfast, surf the web and check email. I might even do laundry or some other stuff. Then I would go back to bed and sleep another four hours, more or less. I would enjoy a deep sleep, dream, and awake totally refreshed and invigorated.

I thought my split sleep schedule was a problem. I did some research and found that my experience is the norm for natural human behavior. People lived like this forever. Their homes and lives were arranged around a split sleep schedule. The second sleep was always the deep R.E.M. Sleep.

Then came the industrial revolution. We were duped into believing that we should sleep eight hours straight and then be ready for work. We were led to condescend towards those quaint Mexicans and their “siestas.” I lived in Mexico for five years. I helped to change the ways of a few thousand Mexican workers. Now I feel bad about that. The siesta started in Spain. It was a two hour afternoon break to escape the heat. It really had nothing to do with a split sleep schedule.

As they say, “All is well that ends well.” I am never sure that’s true, but here I am in my golden years. Well, let them say that seniors need naps. That would be us. They can call it a nap if they want. Sleep on. I will join you.

If I must I can go on the old schedule, but I have learned how to plan to avoid that. I can almost always just cancel and reschedule. Phones have an off switch and I use it. On my phone it is called “Airplane Mode.” If my second sleep becomes five hours rather than four, or if it gets a late start, so be it and don’t bother me. I already know this makes me a bad overnight house guest.

I was near death and could not walk more than a few steps, even with a walker. After some serious surgeries I am recovering. Proper diet and exercise continue to be the doctor recommended approach to wellness. There are other things to consider, but here is some information about my diet. I have benefited from this beyond my expectations. In the past six months I have lost 41 pounds. I can rapidly walk 1/2 mile (under ten minutes) before I stop to rest or catch my breath. Before I could not walk 100 feet. I continue to improve and I feel good.

This article is about a part of my diet and how to make it happen. I read and researched for
months. Here is a list of some important things I should eat every day. It is a daunting list. It
would require a lot of chewing. I do not chew well. I have some dental issues. Also, I tend to aspirate food if I chew too long. That is a scary situation when it occurs, and it is not fun at all. This solved that problem for me too. The end result is a smoothie that you can keep in the fridge. Mine lasts a week. I do this once a week. If it ever gets a bit “iffy” then I throw it out. Mine keeps quite well for a week.

Getting right to the meat of the issue, or vegetable as it were, here is the list:
Broccoli, two bunches*
Asparagus, bunch*
Green leafy something, bunch:

*These vegetables I blanch before I prepare them. By blanch I mean three to five seconds in boiling water, no more time than that. I use a giant strainer to dip and remove. I have made this without blanching. It was fine, but I think the blanching enhances the flavor and
freshness. I use organic vegetables whenever I can. I use organic Stonyfield farm yogurt. I pull off the chili stem caps before blanching. After blanching I cut the chili peppers open lengthwise and strip out the veins and seeds because I am not making hot salsa. Trim the veggies any way you choose. Obviously trim and discard the woody bottoms of the asparagus and broccoli. If I use Kale I strip the leafy part from the stem part. I rinse everything thoroughly under a strong stream of water or the vegetable sprayer. I final rinse with water from my filtered source. Then I shake everything to dry as much as is practical.

I used a stick blender but it caught on fire trying to do a batch of this. It was too much for the Oster stick. Now I use a conventional blender.

I throw portions of these ingredients into the blender with a cup of yogurt. When it is reduced to smoothie status I dump the blender into a large mixing bowl. I repeat this process until all of the ingredients are used. Then I stir everything in the bowl until it is uniform. In this way I don’t need to worry if each blender batch is equal because it all gets together in the bowl. Next, I use a canning funnel and 16 ounce jars with sealing lids. For me it takes four or five of these jars to hold it all. I put the smoothie into these jars, screw on the lids and refrigerate. I use jars from Smuckers All Natural Peanut Butter. I love good peanut butter.

Every day I eat eight to ten ounces of the smoothie. Depending on consistency you can drink it like a thick milkshake or you can eat it with a spoon like a thick milkshake. I think it tastes great. This amount is equivalent to a large salad, it is missing only the spaces. I make sure I drink a glass of water before I consume a smoothie like this and a glass of
water shortly after. The water will “keep things moving” if you know what I mean. Water is good for me in many other ways.

I have more to say about diet. I will do that in future articles. I also will post some information about water and about food choices.

Fred

]]>I Caused Flood Damagehttp://dishner.com/?p=10
Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:15:41 +0000http://dishner.com/?p=10Continue reading →]]>Last month I wrote a check to my landlord for $760.00.
It was for cleanup of flood/water damage.Replace your washing machine hoses every three to five years.
It costs way less than $760.00.

Check your homeowners/rental insurance policy. If you call your insurance company and ask a question about coverage they will probably count that as a claim. They might even cancel your policy just because you inquired about the coverage.

I had driven to Raleigh to have lunch with a friend. It is a one hour drive.
I had not seen this man for forty years. We went to college together.
He married my cousin. He came to the U.S. from Chile to bury her.
May she rest in peace. We talked and ate and drank. I was gone about four hours.
It would have been longer but he had a plane to catch. It was nice to see him again.
I should have gone to Chile with him.

When I returned home I noticed water in the breezeway. Upon entering my front door
I stepped into about an inch of water. As I walked into my apartment I saw soaked
carpet in all of the rooms and a flooded kitchen. I immediately thought that my upstairs
neighbor was at fault. The maintenance guy was just outside. He approached me and
said that he had turned off my water, and that my washing machine hose had burst.
He also said that he called their “cleanup people”.

When the cleanup crew came they quickly went about assessing the work. They gave
me an estimate of $820.00. They also informed me that they had 48 hours to dry it up
before the mildew took over.

I didn’t want mildew, so I said for them to do it. They brought in 2 huge dehumidifiers
and 7 large blowers with flattened exhaust tubes. They slit my carpets, positioned the
blowers and turned on the dehumidifiers. My carpet raised up like a big blister. I turned the air conditioner to 68 degrees to help with the drying. It took two days. One of the dehumidifiers failed and was replaced on day two. They did not charge me for the dehumidifier for the one day.

They put my bed on risers. Everything else was stacked up in dry spots in the dining
room and living room. As you might imagine, the noise was quite loud. I took an extra
XANAX both nights and slept like a baby.

I bought a new set of hoses for my washing machine. They were steel reinforced hoses
with a high rated burst strength. A little pricey, but not a problem.
My renters insurance does not cover water damage.

Replace your washing machine hoses every three to five years.
It costs way less than $760.00.